Azure Dragon Pharmacy.
Zhao Ya kneaded the prepared medicinal powder into uniformly-sized elixir pills, then placed them back into the furnace for baking.
This was the final step, and also the most crucial one.
The ultimate efficacy of the medicine depended entirely on the control of the fire in this step.
Previously, when Zhao Ya was making the poisonous powder, he had to carefully monitor the fire at this step, not daring to be careless at all.
But now, there was no such hassle.
After placing the elixir pills, Zhao Ya bent down to check the flames inside the furnace.
Inside, the finest pine charcoal was burning, but the fire had been suppressed to prevent it from being too intense and drying out the pill furnace.
At this moment, the elixir pills were in the furnace, and it was time to increase the heat.
Zhao Ya gently waved his palm, the Palm Power lightly emanated, and the Azure Dragon True Power immediately surged into the furnace to aid the fire.
Whoosh!
The previously suppressed fire quickly blazed up and soon reached the desired heat level.
Then Zhao Ya ceased the flow of True Power and slowly withdrew his palm.
Although it lasted for less than a minute, Zhao Ya’s forehead still showed a hint of sweat.
After all, this was unlike other times, as it involved using True Power to incite the fire, which was a significant test for one’s cultivation and physical endurance.
Even so, Zhao Ya felt quite pleased.
Because this time, not only did he maintain it for the longest time, but he also controlled the fire with the utmost precision, a significant improvement indeed.
Using the hand to control the flow of True Power and thus control the fire was a way to train control over one’s True Power.
This method was discovered by Zhao Ya in a book gifted to him by Guo Luming.
Upon seeing this method, even Zhao Ya had to admire Guo Luming’s creativity.
Because this method is not only intuitive and convenient but also quite effective.
Thus, Zhao Ya used it for refining the elixir pills this time.
"How’s it going?" Shen Yunshen entered the room and asked.
"Hmm, it’s almost done. Maintain this fire, and it will be ready in, at most, an hour," Zhao Ya replied.
Shen Yunshen exhaled softly, then plopped onto a nearby chair.
"Went down the mountain?" Zhao Ya laughed.
"Yeah, went down and took a look, but didn’t find a damn thing. These bastards are just too damn cunning," Shen Yunshen said resentfully.
When Zhao Ya first started refining the Antidote Pill, Shen Yunshen was helping for a while.
But soon he became bored.
Because the initial preparation was so tedious, grinding various herbs into powder and adjusting the dosage bit by bit.
With Shen Yunshen’s temperament, doing such meticulous tasks was more painful than a death sentence.
So he found an excuse and slipped away.
Zhao Ya knew he couldn’t stay idle, especially since this matter struck a sensitive chord with Shen Yunshen, so he would certainly go off the mountain to search for traces of those people.
However, Zhao Ya didn’t hold much hope.
Because those people, daring to openly attack the Azure Dragon Temple’s disciples, must have been fully prepared.
At this moment, they were surely hiding somewhere, waiting for the next move from the Azure Dragon Temple.
Sure enough, Shen Yunshen returned empty-handed and sat in front of the pill furnace, lost in thought.
An hour passed quickly, and Zhao Ya extinguished the fire and opened the furnace.
At the moment the lid was lifted, a thick medicinal fragrance spread instantly.
Shen Yunshen also became interested, leaned over to look, and saw many neatly arranged elixir pills on the furnace grate.
These elixir pills were baked to a glossy sheen, resembling large black cherries, exceptionally appealing.
"Is it done?" Shen Yunshen asked excitedly.
Zhao Ya reached out to take an elixir pill, examined its quality, and nodded with satisfaction, saying, "Hmm, it’s done."
"Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and call people over, and then head down the mountain to search for those bastards," Shen Yunshen said impatiently.
"Don’t rush, even if we have the Antidote Pill, do you think ordinary disciples can be a match for those assassins?"
"Moreover, the area below is vast; even if our entire Azure Dragon Temple moves out in force and searches wildly, it’s unlikely we’ll be able to flush them out."
"Then what do you suggest?" Shen Yunshen asked.
"Naturally act with strategy," Zhao Ya smiled and said.
An hour later, in a side hall, Guan Xuejiang looked at the eager Azure Dragon Elder and disciples below, then spoke.
"You must have heard about last night’s event, and now gathering you here is to form you into small teams, then go down the mountain to track those people. Any problems?"
These people responded in unison, "No problem."
Those called by Guan Xuejiang to this side hall were trustworthy.
It’s not that they didn’t trust others, but the Azure Dragon Temple was too large, and there was no guarantee that the Separation Tower or other sects hadn’t planted spies within.
Guan Xuejiang nodded slightly, then glanced at Zhao Ya, indicating that the rest was up to him.
Zhao Ya didn’t hesitate, stepped forward, and spoke.
"Fellow elders and senior brothers, this time we need to form ten squads, each with at least five people, and there must be one or two elders in each squad for contingencies. The rest is up to you. Start teaming up freely now."
Those who came here basically belonged to the same faction, with natural good relations, so after a commotion, the teams were quickly formed.
Then Zhao Ya took out a stack of papers and distributed them to the ten teams.
"On these are the areas that need to be searched after going down the mountain. Each team must strictly follow the instructions on their assigned paper."
Many people picked up the papers and saw that the area around the Azure Dragon Temple and its surroundings had been divided into ten sections.
Each team only needs to search the area for which they are responsible, making the task instantly clear and straightforward.
Next, Zhao Ya handed out a small black bag to each team captain.
"Inside are antitoxic pills and a large-sized flare. When you find any trace of the enemy during the search, do not act greedy, immediately take an antitoxic pill, and ignite the flare to notify others, understood?"
"Understood."
The team captains all nodded, feeling somewhat impressed.
Initially, some elders felt uncomfortable being commanded by Zhao Ya.
After all, no matter how good Zhao Ya was, he was just a disciple, now turning around and giving orders to elders like themselves was quite hard to accept.
But once Zhao Ya clearly and meticulously explained all the tasks, any resentment in their hearts vanished.
Because Zhao Ya had arranged everything so meticulously that there was no need to think, they just had to follow his instructions step by step.
Who wouldn’t admire someone like that?
Not just them, even Guan Xuejiang was quite surprised.
Previously, he only knew that Zhao Ya had great talent and was smart, but he didn’t expect his command to be so flawless.
Do not underestimate this ability.
This talent for overall planning and strategic command is something many people cannot learn in a lifetime.
Therefore, Guan Xuejiang appreciated Zhao Ya even more, feeling that he had really found a treasure.
By now, everything had been explained clearly.
Zhao Ya, together with Tian Yixin, Gui Xuanqing, and two senior brothers joined a team, and then they went down the mountain.
Different from other teams who had specific search directions, Zhao Ya’s team was mainly responsible for clearing the ignored corners.
After all, reality is not as perfect as a blueprint, and there are always neglected corners.
And so everyone was engaged in this grand search operation.
Thirty miles away, in a valley.
At this moment, Bao Shan was playing with a plump white worm in his hand.
His chubby face had a charming smile, and the worm was round and cute.
But within five meters of him, there was not a single person.
Everyone was hiding far away, afraid of getting affected.
Because they knew how terrifying the seemingly cute worm was.
Bao Shan managed to become a steward in the Separation Tower just after reaching the Fifth Realm mainly due to his mysterious insect poison technique.
At this moment, Bao Shan looked up at the people in the distance and said somewhat helplessly.
"No need to be so tense, Xiaohai is very happy now, it won’t randomly poison anyone."
Xiaohai?
The crowd looked at the tender white worm in his hand, feeling somewhat speechless.
"Cousin, better put Xiaohai away, just looking at it makes me itch all over."
The tall, thin man was Bao Shan’s cousin named Lai Cai.
Hearing his cousin’s words, Bao Shan had to put the worm back and then shakily stood up.
"I wonder how City Lord Qiao and his group are doing with their investigation."
Earlier this morning, Qiao Le, the city lord of Jade Dragon City, took a group to investigate the Azure Dragon Temple’s movements.
"Based on the time, they should be back soon," Lai Cai said.
Bao Shan yawned idly.
"The poison bags I gave them haven’t been activated, apparently they didn’t encounter any danger. I guess, since something happened yesterday, the Azure Dragon Temple would be highly vigilant today, so Qiao Le’s visit would be pointless."
Lai Cai then walked closer and hesitantly said.
"Senior Brother, even if we have insect poison protection, we don’t have enough people to fight South Azure Dragon with spells, do we?"
"Yes, Steward Bao, yesterday’s ambush was successful, but surely South Azure Dragon will be on guard, trying an ambush again won’t be so easy."
Bao Shan smiled, "I know what you’re thinking, rest assured, before we came, the place had already informed me that in three to five days they will gather forces for large-scale support. By then, perhaps South Azure Dragon might really find it hard to deal with us."
Though they didn’t know why the place insisted on waiting three to five more days for support.
But since Bao Shan said so, no one disagreed.
"Lai Cai, go catch a deer from afar to roast it, I’m sick of eating fish every day," Bao Shan instructed.
"Yes, cousin."
But just as he turned to leave, a distant boom echoed faintly.
Everyone froze at once.
Bao Shan’s face instantly turned grim.
"What’s going on?"
"No idea, could it be a celebration or a funeral nearby?"
"Something’s off, let’s go take a look."